How to clean, care & service your watch
A highly technical instrument, a watch is designed to be worn every day meaning it needs the utmost care and attention. From how to clean a watch, to watch servicing, our guide has everything you need to know.
Waterproof vs water resistant watch
What’s the difference between a waterproof and water resistant watch? Well, water resistant means able to resist the penetration of water to some degree but not entirely. Waterproof means impervious to water.
In the watch world, water resistant and waterproof can cause some confusion. The term the watch industry usually uses when describing a watch’s performance in water is ‘water resistant’, because no watch is completely ‘waterproof’. There’s always a limit to how much water pressure a watch can resist. However, some people may refer to a watch with extremely high water resistance levels as ‘waterproof’ – but these watches are still not absolutely waterproof.
The water resistance of your watch refers to the static pressure it can withstand, not the actual depth of water it can be used in. For example, 50m water resistance doesn’t mean you can dive up to a depth of 50m. The 50m refers to the pressure it can experience if it was static at a depth of 50m, but as soon as you move the watch, the pressure rises. Therefore, a watch with a water resistance of 50m is actually only suitable for shallow swimming, not diving:
3 ATM / 30m: Splash proof and waterproof in small amounts of water
5 ATM / 50m: Can be submerged in water. Suitable for shallow swimming
10 ATM / 100m: Suitable for swimming, snorkelling and water sports
20 ATM / 200m: Ideal for scuba diving
30 ATM / 300m: and over: Professional and deep-sea
Top tips for using your watch in water:
1
To ensure and maintain water resistance, we recommend that you remove your watch before having a hot shower or using a sauna. Extreme heat could cause watch seals to expand and create openings for water droplets to get inside.
2
Watches designed for water activities should always have the crown pushed down or screwed in tightly before being exposed to water.
3
The water resistance of your watch may not be permanent as over time the seal may be affected by wear or accidental shock to the crown. We'd recommend you have the seals of your water resistant watch tested annually.
HOW TO CLEAN YOUR WATCH
Cleaning the case
For water resistant watches, use a soft toothbrush and mild soapy water before rinsing with cold water and polishing with a soft dry cloth. Always rinse with warm tap water after immersing it in the sea or a pool, and if your watch has a rotating bezel, rotate the bezel gently while cleaning it to dislodge any debris like sand or salt. If your watch isn’t water resistant, avoid exposing it to any type of moisture. Instead, simply wipe it with a soft dry cloth such as these Connoisseurs Jewellery Wipes.
Stainless steel watches
Use a soft toothbrush and mild soapy water to clean metal bracelets. Rinse with cold water and use a dry cloth to polish it.
How to clean watch straps
Leather watch strap
For leather straps, avoid getting it regularly damp, exposing it to direct sunlight and contact with chemicals like perfumes, solvents, and detergents. It’s a good idea to clean your leather strap after any form of activity, as dust, dirt and sweat can cause stains and odours.
Rubber watch strap
Like leather straps, rubber straps shouldn’t be exposed to chemicals like perfumes, cosmetics or oily products. As a lot of divers’ watches use rubber straps, it’s important to remember to clean the strap with warm water after wearing it in the sea to prevent the high salt content from damaging the strap.
Professional polishing
Polishing your watch is slightly different to cleaning it. Cleaning removes dirt and grime, whilst polishing removes scratches and restores shine. If you’d like your watch polishing, we recommend you bring it into store and one of our experts can do it for you, or we can send it off to the brand.
Helpful hint: if you need your watch strap altering, we’d recommend either using our watch strap size chart or bringing it into store where our experts can help.
Storing your watch
Another way to help increase the lifespan of your watch collection is to make sure you’re storing them correctly. Leaving your watch on the side or in a draw can scratch it (amongst other things), so it’s important it has a safe place for when you’re not wearing it.
Things to avoid
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Learning the watch movements
Maintenance Service
We recommend you have a maintenance service on your watch every 18 to 24 months, although this will depend on the brand, the watch model and your own personal use. Refer to your specific user guide to double check what timings you should be adhering to. This will help ensure its water resistance and accurate performance of the movement.
This service includes (although it might vary slightly by brand):
- Rating/ regulation check
- Replacing the crown, gaskets and battery for quartz movements
- Water resistance control
- Cleaning of the case and bracelet
- Overall quality control check
Complete Overhaul
A complete overhaul service on your watch is recommended every four to five years, although again the frequency we recommend will depend on the brand and your own personal use.
This service includes (although it might vary slightly by brand):
- Dismantling the movement and cleaning, oiling, regulating, reassembling all of the parts and checking all of the functions
- Repairing or replacing any worn movement parts
- Replacing the crown, gaskets and battery for quartz movements
- Water resistance control
- Cleaning of the case and bracelet
- Final quality control
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